Recycling : Stadler’s expansion into Japan signals a new era for recycling and waste sorting

STADLER Anlagenbau GmbH, the globally active German company specialising in the planning, production and assembly of turnkey sorting plants, has established STADLER Japan K.K., marking a pivotal step in its international growth strategy and reinforcing its long-term commitment to the Asian market.

The launch was celebrated with a dedicated event bringing together industry players, partners, relevant associations and media representatives. Senior STADLER figures were in attendance, including Co-CEO Willi Stadler, Jürgen Berger, Head of International Sales, and Ursina Mutzner, Sales Manager responsible for the Japan market. “This opening is an important milestone. We believe that with our technology, we can make a significant contribution to improving the sorting of valuable materials in Japan and return them to the recycling loop for a cleaner and more sustainable world,” said Willi Stadler, Co-CEO of STADLER Group.

Japan represents a strategically important market for STADLER, characterised by a strong focus on quality and a highly developed waste management infrastructure. Historically, the country has accounted for around 70% of the world’s incineration facilities, building a waste management model strongly centred on Waste-to-Energy (WtE), supported by limited landfill availability and high urban density.

However, Japan is advancing its transition towards a more circular economy, driven by an increasingly stringent regulatory framework and a growing emphasis on material quality and resource efficiency. Initiatives such as the Plastic Resource Circulation Act, promoted by the Japanese Ministry of the Environment, are reinforcing the need to improve plastic recycling rates and strengthen upstream sorting processes. Notably, the country has set ambitious targets for plastics, including the goal of achieving 100% effective utilisation of plastic waste by 2035.

In this context, there is growing interest in pre-incineration sorting solutions that enable the recovery of valuable recyclable materials, particularly plastics and municipal waste streams. This includes the development of dry sorting technologies as an alternative to conventional wet processes, as well as the integration of sorting facilities alongside existing Waste-to-Energy plants to maximise material recovery before energy generation.

STADLER’s decision to establish a direct presence in Japan builds on more than a decade of activity in the market. The company’s first project in Japan dates back to 2010, with a presorting plant for PET bottles, followed by the sale of high-speed conveyors from 2013 onwards. From 2015, STADLER strengthened its presence further through its collaboration with FUJI CAR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD for ballistic separators and the opening of a local test facility.

This development is reflected in a series of projects across different waste streams. In plastics recycling, STADLER delivered presorting plants for PET bottles in 2010 and 2017. In packaging, the company has supplied sorting plants for Hyuga Kuroda and TBM. More recently, STADLER expanded into metal recycling with the Arbiz project, marking the introduction of XRT-based sorting solutions into the Japanese market. The company has also established a strong installed base in the country, including over 30 ballistic separators supplied via Fujicar and around 100 high-speed conveyors.

STADLER Japan K.K. is led by Megumi Sasaki, Project Director for the Japan subsidiary. The new office will focus on sales and after-sales activities, supporting customers in key applications such as light packaging and municipal solid waste sorting, particularly in processes upstream of incineration. “We are proud to be in Japan and see this as an important step in the further development of our company. It underlines our long-term commitment to the region and our ambition to grow together with our customers. This move is part of STADLER’s broader strategy to expand its global reach while responding to evolving market requirements,” said Julia Stadler, Co-CEO of STADLER Group.

The new premises will also support applications including plastics recycling, PET presorting, and metal recycling solutions — areas where STADLER’s European expertise positions it well to complement existing infrastructure. “Our local presence allows us to work closely with customers and partners in Japan, better understand their specific requirements and respond more effectively to market needs. At the same time, we see a clear opportunity to complement existing Waste-to-Energy systems with advanced sorting solutions, enabling more materials to be recovered before incineration. This is where STADLER can bring real added value,” said Megumi Sasaki.

Japan’s policy framework is increasingly focused on improving the recovery of valuable materials across different waste streams, encouraging operators to extract more value from waste before final treatment. As part of this direction, STADLER aims to support this transition by combining its engineering expertise with a growing local presence. “We are currently in discussions on several projects, which clearly demonstrates the momentum we are seeing in the market,” concluded Megumi Sasaki